"Gentlemen and ladies!"
Standing barely waist-high compared to an adult, the host—wearing a bright clown mask—held a microphone and spun theatrically on stage. With arms thrown wide open, he declared, "Whether you're a participant seated in the audience or an ordinary viewer glued to your screen at home, I say—"
"Welcome to the most shocking, thrilling, and exciting event of the year—"
The clown host raised his hand, looked up dramatically, and shouted:
"Thriller Contest!!!"
Suddenly, lights burst to life behind him, illuminating the stage with vibrant colors. Standing center stage, the clown slowly bowed his head. His exaggerated mask smile reflected the eerie, festive energy of the moment.
"Ahahaha! Let's cut to the chase. What comes next... is the final showdown of the Thriller Competition!"
Turning slightly, the lights dimmed once again as the clown pointed toward a massive screen behind him.
"Let me introduce to you the nineteen contenders for this grand finale! All of them are first-time finalists~"
As he gestured, the first contestant's profile lit up on the big screen.
"This contestant is already wildly popular! He cleared 50 dungeons in just three months since entering the game. A phenomenal, record-breaking newcomer—Lucas!!!"
Meanwhile, off-stage, Blue Kill and Marco stood calmly, their attention unfazed by the buzzing screen.
They had participated in last year's competition and were automatically exempt from this year's qualifiers.
"Another super rookie, huh? You get one every year, like clockwork," Marco muttered, rubbing his chin.
Blue Kill glanced at the time and crossed her arms. "Didn't Lucas forfeit his qualification? Is he really going to show up today?"
Marco shook his head. "No idea..."
One dramatic introduction followed another, each hyped up by the clown's antics. Finally, after a quick breath, he raised the mic again and continued.
"And now, our final contestant! A true novice among veterans!"
The clown's voice stretched into a dramatic crescendo.
On the central display, a new face appeared.
Lucas, his expression wary and serious, stared back at millions watching.
"Lucas! A new player granted special entry into this finale. So far, he has cleared five dungeons!"
"Amazing? Or insane? You decide! Even the legendary Blue Kill had more entries!"
The crowd outside roared with disbelief.
"Didn't he quit? What's he doing back in the finals?!"
"Wasn't there a rumor about him being locked out at the login gate? Maybe he was forced to participate!"
"Poor guy. He's talented, sure, but competing against veterans? That's suicide."
"Exactly. He was smart to give up. Now he's back? This won't end well."
Back inside the venue, the camera panned to audience member One Hundred and One, who practically leapt with excitement.
"He's in! This is gonna be good!"
Blue Kill remained expressionless.
Marco leaned closer, eavesdropping on surrounding whispers. Then he turned and said, "No one's appearing on the Tianbei Huitian line."
Blue Kill sneered. "I'll wager one million points."
Marco choked. "On... who?"
Blue Kill replied without hesitation: "All on Lucas qualifying."
As the murmurs of speculation slowly faded, the clown host resumed explaining the structure of the final event.
"This is how the broadcast works: the biggest screen—our Home Screen—will display the most thrilling scenes in real-time. Gifts sent by viewers will be attributed directly to the featured players."
"Earn a million points in a minute? Absolutely possible if you're on the Home Screen!"
The sub-screens, however, would only track individual performances and wouldn't garner nearly as much viewer heat.
"And now, let the finals of the Thriller Competition... BEGIN!"
Behind the host, the massive display came to life.
An aerial shot zoomed downward, revealing a picturesque town nestled below.
[Entering the finals...]
[Loading game instance...]
[Instance loaded.]
[Instance Name: Verne Town]
[Difficulty: Unknown]
[Mode: Thriller Competition Special]
[Main Objective: Survive for 10 Days]
[Everyone knows the charm and peace of Verne Town...]
[Good luck to all contestants.]
---
Lucas opened his eyes to the muffled sound of a radio broadcast.
He lay in a modest bed. Instinctively, he clutched the kitchen knife tucked beside him.
"Unexpected situations always make people uneasy," he muttered, brows furrowed.
He swung his legs off the bed and sat up, surveying the plain room around him. A bed, a cupboard, slippers neatly arranged on the floor.
In that dull monotony, one thing stood out.
A form on the wall.
Lucas got out of bed and walked over. The radio crackled again.
"Dear citizens of Verne, it's time to rise! A new day begins!"
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